Day: July 8, 2022

Governments should unleash the potential of solar and wind power given that the need for clean energy is increasing in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region, an electricity analyst with Ember Asia has said.

“Governments should unleash the power of solar and wind, as is happening already in China, India, and across much of the world. As fossil fuel prices soar through the roof, solar and wind prices remain low, providing affordable, homegrown energy,” Achmed Edianto said, according to a press release received from global energy think tank Ember by ANTARA here on Friday.

According to a new report published on Friday by the global energy think tank, faster growth in clean electricity is urgently needed in the ASEAN region.

To keep up with increasing demand and prevent power sector CO2 emissions from rising further, ASEAN members need to ramp up solar and wind power utilization.

The report states that among the 10 ASEAN member states, five countries—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, or the ‘ASEAN 5’—account for 89 percent of the region’s total electricity generation.

This makes their contribution crucial to achieving the clean energy transition in the region, although contributions from the remaining ASEAN members will be equally important for achieving the climate goals.

However, the latest energy plans released by the ASEAN 5 would only see the share of solar and wind power rising to 11 percent of the region’s total electricity supply by 2030.

By 2030, Viet Nam is expected to generate 18 percent solar and wind power in total, the Philippines 16.5 percent, Thailand 9.6 percent, Malaysia 3.4 percent, and Indonesia 2 percent.

The figure does not align with the IEA net-zero pathway. Recent trends show that if the development of clean energy fails to keep up with the rising demand, fossil fuels will take over, the report said.

Indonesia plans to add 4.68 GW solar and 0.6 GW wind capacity by 2030, according to PLN’s Electricity Business Plan (RUPTL) 2021–2030, which is touted as the “greenest” RUPTL.

The share of solar and wind power generation in 2030 would be the lowest among the five ASEAN countries. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s power demand growth projection is among the highest at 4.9 percent annually. At this pace, only 5 percent of the increase in demand will be met through solar and wind power.

According to the report, solar and wind power generation needs to grow rapidly in ASEAN nations, especially considering that it is currently the most economical and quickest way to replace coal.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has the ability to contribute to emissions reduction in the region and the opportunity to lead ASEAN nations in the transition to clean energy by maximizing its solar and wind potential.

Hence, the analyst encouraged ASEAN member countries to increase their clean energy targets.

“Solar and wind are progressing across Southeast Asia, but more aggressive targets and timely execution are needed to utilize the vast potential. Governments need to redress 2030 energy plans,” he said.

Solar and wind power will be the backbone of the world’s future electricity system, but the current electricity plans of ASEAN countries do not reflect this, he added.

The IEA’s Net Zero report projects that 40 percent of the global electricity supply would come from solar and wind power by 2030. Hence, more ambitious solar and wind deployment plans in ASEAN are needed to align with the 1.5 degrees Paris agreement limit, he said.

 

Source: Antara News

The Batang Integrated Industrial Estate (KITB) in Central Java province will require at least 28 thousand skilled workers in the next few years, deputy II at the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Abetnego Tarigan, has said.

The government will prepare the local workforce with the required skills and working endurance so that they can be absorbed by corporations operating in the industrial estate, he informed at a focus group discussion (FGD) regarding the development of KITB, here on Friday.

The FGD was held to determine the needs of the industrial players in terms of human resources, he added. This is so that business actors do not bring in workers from another region.

“Later, they (the human resources) will be trained at the BLK (vocational training center), SMK (Vocational High School), or other trainings (centers),” he said.

The FGD involved representatives from the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry, Manpower Ministry, Industry Ministry, National Development Planning Ministry, as well as the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry.

It was also attended by several representatives from the Central Java provincial government, including the regional secretary, head of the education and culture office, as well as head of the manpower and transmigration office.

Officials from the Batang and Cilacap district governments also took part in the discussion.

Meanwhile, director of operations and engineering at KITB, Adler Manarissan Siahaan, informed that with a total area of 4,300 hectares, the KITB has been divided into 3 clusters—creation, innovation, and leisure.

“Currently, in Phase 1 (of KITB’s development), 450 hectares of Cluster 1 (creation) has been successfully sold in less than two years. There have been 12 committed investors,” he said.

The FGD was a follow-up to directives issued by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) during his visit to the KITB on April 21, 2021, as well as the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), he added.

One of the main targets for the establishment of the KITB is to increase the number of skilled human resources in Indonesia who can master science and technology.

“The FGD and coordination meeting is a catalyst for driving the economy in the future,” general manager for human capital management at KITB, Budi Reing Wirawan, remarked.

 

Source: Antara News

The National Development Planning (PPN) Ministry and National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) hosted the 2022 One Data Indonesia (SDI) steering board meeting to improve government strategies and programs in 2022.

The meeting was led by National Development Planning Minister and Bappenas head Suharso Monoarfa.

“This meeting is to implement President Jokowi’s (Joko Widodo’s) directive to consolidate the implementation of SDI,” he said.

The meeting also discussed the application of One Data Indonesia for socioeconomic registration, and its use to avoid the overlapping or duplication of data of central and regional agencies, he informed.

“(The meeting was also held) to monitor and evaluate SDI on a quarterly basis, to support the provision of National Data Centers (PDNs) and the government service connecting system (SPLP) to share data,” Monoarfa explained.

According to the minister, SDI, once functional, will align with the framework of the electronic-based government system.

Furthermore, the meeting agreed on important points, including budget efficiency through the clearance process in data collection activities.

“What can be simplified in the fiscal year 2022? What can be done for the preparation of the fiscal year 2023? We must discipline it when it comes to budgeting, such as matters related to (SDI’s) application, interoperability, and simplification,” Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who was present at the meeting, said.

Designed as a strategy to realize the advanced Indonesia vision by 2045, SDI is directed at supporting the national digital transformation by increasing data literacy, digital talent, and utilizing the national information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure through national data centers.

Meanwhile, head of Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Margo Yuwono, said that BPS fully supports endeavors to synchronize and harmonize the implementation of SDI based on the President’s directive, for instance, through social protection system reform supported by collecting socioeconomic data.

 

Source: Antara News